James 'Athenian' Stuart The Rediscovery of Antiquity Susan Weber Soros

The creation of the 'Greek style' and its pervasive impact in England and on the Continent during the third quarter of the eighteenth century was largely due to James Stuart's landmark multi-volume publication "Antiquities of Athens", coauthored with Nicholas Revett. Stuart, subsequently known as 'Athenian' Stuart, went on to a highly influential career that spanned the fields of architecture, interior decoration, furnishings, sculpture, and metalwork. This lavishly illustrated book is the first to examine Stuart's multi-dimensional career and the full scope of his contributions as designer, artist, and tastemaker. An international team of scholars consider each area of Stuart's work, his early training, interest in archaeology, unique network of patrons, poor record for completing projects, and legacy. With illustrations and discussion of the stunning neo-classical furnishings he created at Spencer House, the Greek Doric Temple at Hagley, and numerous other remarkable projects, the book brings Stuart's achievements to light more clearly than ever before.

Susan Weber Soros is founder and director of the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture. She is coauthor of Thomas Jeckyll: Architect and Designer, 1827-1881 and coeditor of Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, both published by Yale University Press.

'...sumptuous, gorgeously illustrated...' - Clive Aslet, The Sunday Telegraph

'The clarity of Stuart's own drawings, which are all beautifully reproduced in Yale University Press's book, illustrate the value of the architect's own process of looking and seeing.' - Ptolemy Dean, Architect's Journal

'one of the achievements of this book is to give Stuart an identity apart from the dialogue of 'Stuart versus (Robert) Adam' and 'Greece versus Rome'.' - Christopher Woodward, Times Literary Supplement

'thorough and fascinating study of all aspects of Stuart's work and life, the first such comprehensive, highly illustrated account. If we were inclined to nominate anything as invidious as the 'book of the year' this would be it.' --Anglo-Hellenic Review

'James 'Athenian' Stuart is a rewarding publication that, in choosing to examine neoclassicism from a single practitioner's viewpoint is remarkably successful in showing the phenomenon's real and varied content.' Oxford Art Journal